Hells Angels mega-trial postponed another week

The Hells Angels mega-trial set to begin today in Montreal has been delayedanother week to replace a jury member who was excused from the proceedings.

A juror informed the court last week thathe received a job promotion and could no longer take part in trial.

The trial is now scheduled to beginnext Monday, Aug. 10.

Seven known associatesor members of the biker gangin Quebec were expected tofinally stand trial Mondaymorning, six years after the SharQc sting operation that netted 156 arrests.

Facingvarious criminal charges, including conspiracy and murder, are:

• Claude Berger.
• SylvainVachon.
• FranoisVachon.
• YvonTanguay.
• MichelVallires.
• ChristianMnard.
• EmeryMartin

Before the court proceedings wereadjourned, one of the accused,Martin, pleadedguiltyto conspiracy.

The trial, which will take place at theGouin courthouse,is expected to last between 18 and 24 months.

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Last Friday,two otherdefendants who were also to stand trial LouisRuelandFranoisGoupilpleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. The first-degree murder charges they were facing will be dropped, according to the Crown.

In July, a 10thdefendant,Jacques Dumais, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder.

In 2009, a number ofpolice forcesraided bunkers and biker hangoutsacross the province and New Brunswick.

In the end, 156 people were arrested in the stingoperation, andcharged with a variety of offences includingmurder, conspiracy to commit murder, drug trafficking and gangsterism.

More than 100 of those arrested have pleaded guilty, while31 others were released in 2011after a judge ruled there had beenunreasonable delays in their cases.

Anotherthree people have died since being charged, while eight others are still at large.

A final pair of accused,Robert Bonomo andJohn Coates, havea date for an English-language trial set for January 2017.